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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_09-21-94_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Held in the Board Room of the Old Frederick County Court House in Winchester, Virginia on September 21, 1994. PRESENT: Planning Commissioners present were: James W. Golladay, Jr., Chairman; John R. Marker, Vice Chairman /Back Creek District; Marjorie H. Copenhaver, Back Creek District; Terry Stone, Gainesboro District; John H. Light, Stonewall District; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr., Stonewall District; Robert A. Morris, Shawnee District; Roger L. Thomas, Opeyuon District; George L. Romine, Citizen at Large; Robert M. Sager, Board Liaison; and Vincent DiBenedetto, Winchester City Liaison. Planning Staff present: Robert W. Watkins, Director and Secretary; and Kris C. Tierney, Deputy Planning Director. ABSENT: S. Blaine Wilson, Shawnee District; Richard C. Shickle, Gainesboro District CALL TO ORDER Chairman Golladay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MINUTES - MEETING OF AUGUST 3 1994 Upon motion made by Mr. Romine and seconded by Mr. Thomas, the minutes of August 3, 1994 were unanimously approved as presented. BIMONTHLY REPORT Chairman Golladay accepted the Bimonthly Report for the Commission's information. 3865 2 COMMITTEE REPORTS Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee Mrs. Copenhaver stated that the comments received at the two public meetings were generally positive regarding the corridor studies. Sanitation Authority - 9/21/94 Mtg. Mrs. Copenhaver reported that the Parkins Mill expansion is underway, but will not be completed for another year. She said that about 150,000 gpd of water is still being purchased from the City, however, this is mostly for security reasons. Mrs. Copenhaver said that customers of the Sanitation Authority who had made deposits to get water and sewer and who are in good standing will be receiving credits to their accounts in the amount of their initial deposits. Battlefield Task Force Mr. Watkins said that the BTF is undergoing an intense process with the consultant to develop a public involvement process. Mr. Watkins said that meetings are scheduled for October and November. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mr. Lawrence Fagg, Opequon District, came forward and stated that last year, there was a heated controversy about the construction of a 66 -home development behind the Jamesway Shopping Center on Route 641. Mr. Fagg said that the Planning Commission recommended that the request be denied, however, it was finally approved by the Board of Supervisors. He said that one of the main reasons for this was that the tract was partially within the County's Urban Development Area. Mr. Fagg presented a petition with signatures from 120 people requesting that the Planning Commission not enlarge the Urban Development Area any further than it is, particularly along Routes 641 and 640. Mr. Fagg read the petition as follows: 3866 9 . This petition is presented to remind the Frederick County Planning Commission of the strong citizen resistance to the rezoning for a 66 -home development on a 28 -acre tract on Route 641 near Route 277. Despite the Planning Commission's rejection of this proposal, it was approved by the County Board of Supervisors early this year. The prime reason for this approval was that most of the tract was within one of the Planning Commission's Urban Development Areas. Given these facts and the continued uncontrolled growth in Frederick County, we the undersigned wish to express our concerted resistance to any extension of the Urban Development Area in this part of the County (specifically along Routes 641 and 640) that might be considered by the Planning Commission in the future. We feel that this position is absolutely necessary to preserve the rural character of this part of the county in the face of increasing growth and the attendant traffic, pollution, and crime. Upon motion made by Mr. Thomas and seconded by Mr. Romine, the Commission unanimously voted to make the petition a part of the official record. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF SEWER OUTSIDE THE SEWER AND WATER SERVICE AREA BY ARTHUR H. FULTON No Action Mr. Tierney stated that Mr. Arthur Fulton is interested in extending sewer to his property which is located on the south side of Route 277, just east of the intersection with Route 636. He said that Mr. Fulton's property is located outside of, but adjacent to, the County's designated Urban Development Area and Sewer and Water Service Area. Mr. Tierney said that the property consists of 14.6 acres, zoned M2 (Industrial General), and is the site of the former Fulton Trucking Company and offices. He said that Mr. Fulton proposes to hook a two -inch line into a pump station located near the pool in Sherando Park, run the line up the west side of Route 636, across property owned by a third party, and then go under Route 636 to his property. He said that Mr. Fulton proposes that a holding tank, which would be pumped periodically, would be utilized for solids and that the sewer connection would only be used for liquid waste. Mr. Tierney said that it was his understanding, through conversations with the Parks & Recreation Department's director, that in order to make this extension, the Parks & Recreation Department would have to make an appeal to the Department of Interior, similar to the one the County had to do with the relocation of Warrior Road and the same funding rules would apply. 3867 0 Mr. Charles W. Maddox, Jr., of G. W. Clifford & Associates, the design engineers, said that this area has a long history of marginally operating on -site waste water facilities. Mr. Arthur Fulton said that there are two septic systems on his property. Mr. Fulton said that he has leased 5,000 square feet of his main office building to Grafton School and he was not certain the existing sewer facilities would be able to handle the increased number of people. Commission members recognized the fact that a number of homeowners just south of this site on Route 636 have experienced failed septic systems. Commissioners noted that when these people tried to upgrade their systems, they found that they didn't have sufficient land to build new, acceptable septic systems. Commission members were also concerned about the installation of a two -inch line on a public right -of -way when, in the near future, the county may have to go back and put in a larger line to serve houses in the area with failing sewage systems. On the other hand, they felt the two -inch line could be used as a limiting factor as far as development of the area was concerned. Another issue that arose concerned the sewage line going across Parcel 143 and whether the county could deny sewage access to that adjacent parcel if it was permitted on Mr. Fulton's property. The Commissioners decided to send this matter to the Comprehensive Plans & Programs Subcommittee for further study and a recommendation. DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED M1 REZONING ALONG ROUTE 50 WEST FOR D.K_ ERECTORS No Action Mr. Tierney said that Mrs. Charlotte Kollar of D.K. Erectors, Inc. was present to discuss the proposed rezoning of 1l acres (Parcel 94B), located north of Route 50 and adjacent the northern limits of the existing D.K. Erectors location, from RA (Rural Areas) to M1 (Light Industrial). Mr. Tierney said that D.K. Erectors has an existing business (Parcel 94A) which is zoned MI and fronts on Route 50. Mrs. Charlotte Kollar, the wife of the President of D.K. Erectors, Inc., Mr. David Kollar, came forward to answer questions and to explain their plans for the expansion of their business. She said that the expansion was primarily a continuation of current operations. Mrs. Kollar said that they planned to construct a new shop facility (approximately 10,000 square feet) for under -roof equipment and materials storage. 3868 5 The main concern of the Commission was impacts to adjoining properties. Mrs. Kollar explained that the closest residences were on the other side of Day Drive, in Westwood Terrace (Lots t through 5), located south and east of the proposed site. She said that those residences are screened from her property by woods and a steep embankment and were accessed by Pinehill Drive and Oak Drive. Mrs. Kollar said that they have a good working relationship with Parcels 18, 91, and 91A, located to the northeast. Mrs. Kollar did not anticipate an increase in vehicular traffic, since they make deliveries and installations at their customer's locations, and no noise impacts would be generated. The Commissioners were generally satisfied that impacts to surrounding properties would be minimal. They also felt that D.K. Erectors was a reputable company and saw no problem accommodating the request. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF THE EASTERN ROAD PLAN No Action Mr. Tierney said that the Comprehensive Plans and Programs Committee is anticipating making minor changes to the Eastern Road Plan, as part of their annual update of the Comprehensive Plan, and these changes would involve the removal or realignment of certain road connections due to changing circumstances or development patterns. He said that the staff has had a number of discussions with G.W. Clifford & Associates concerning some of the problems that exist in the proposed Greenwood Road /Valley Mill Road interchange. Mr. Tierney said that VDOT has a proposal that would align and straighten Valley Mill Road in order to create a squared -off intersection at Valley Mill Road and Greenwood Road. He said that substantial cost would be involved. He said that Mr. Maddox has pointed out the potential to improve upon that idea by de- emphasizing Greenwood Road as a north -south collector in favor of a new north -south collector through Abrams Point, which lies to the west of Greenwood Road, south of Valley Mill Road. Mr. Charles W. Maddox, Jr., with G.W. Clifford & Associates, explained the alternative plan to the Commission. Mr. Maddox said that they would like to be involved in the overall transportation planning and hoped that the Commission would look at their suggestions as a cooperative effort. The Commission was very receptive to Mr. Maddox's ideas and decided to study the Eastern Road Plan alternatives further. 3869 0 ANNUAL PLANNING COMMISSION RETREAT Mr. Watkins said that the Planning Commission's annual retreat will be held on Saturday, November 19, 1994 at the Country Inn in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. ADJOURNMENT No other business remained to be discussed and the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p. M. Respectfully submitted, Robert W. Watkins, Secretary Jam . W. Golladay, r., ia"ir 3870